Given the choice, should I use Android Pay or Samsung Pay?

If you have the choice, which mobile payment setup should you go with?

We've given you a comprehensive look at the differences between Android Pay and Samsung Pay, but that doesn't necessarily answer the question of which you should use. Though both mobile payment solutions do many of the same basic things, there are several factors influencing which one you go with in the end. We're going to help you decide.

Reasons to choose Android Pay

When you look at Android Pay as a second life of Google Wallet, it has actually been around much longer than the other in-store mobile payment solutions. And though it doesn't perfectly replicate Google Wallet, that's actually a good thing — Android Pay is doing things correctly this time around, and in the long run seems to have legs to be a much better service than Wallet ever was.

On the upside

At launch, Android Pay supports more banks and cards from those banks than Samsung Pay. You can bring cards from any major issuer and one of 11 banks to the service, and while that list certainly needs to grow it's much larger than what Samsung has at its launch. And because Google knows that it doesn't support enough banks right now, you actually do have the ability to add unsupported cards, though with the caveat that it'll require an extra PIN code when making a payment and Google can't guarantee that your card issuer will be able to offer you rewards and points for purchases.

Any phone with Android 4.4 and NFC is good to go — no further restriction.

Another win for Android Pay is device and carrier support. You can install Android Pay on just about any Android phone running Android 4.4 KitKat, so long as it has NFC (Near Field Communication) and HCE (Host Card Emulation) support — which most phones do. Even though Android Pay is only available in the U.S., you can install Android Pay on a non-U.S. phone and there's no restriction on what carrier you're using. The requirements all land on the phone's hardware and software, no other outside factors.

And as more of a forward-looking bonus, Android Pay will soon be a widely-used payment system for in-app and online payments. Much like Google Wallet is currently used, going forward you'll be able to use stored cards to make purchases in apps and on websites that support Android Pay. That means you'll be adding your cards to just one app, and using them in stores, in apps, and online — that's a pretty great idea.

On the downside

Because Android Pay is slowly transitioning from Google Wallet, there are some hurdles to get over. Android Pay supports in-store purchases with its app, but there's no integrated website where you can track transactions like you can still with Google Wallet. More to that point, Google Wallet is still what you use for online and in-app payments, as it has yet to transfer over to the Android Pay system. We understand it has to be a slow transition, but while it's happening it's a bit painful.

NFC payments are expanding, but are hardly at every retailer you visit.

Less of a downside and more of just an annoyance, Android Pay is also designed in a way where you can't easily switch between credit or debit cards at the time of payment. With Android Pay you can have several cards loaded into the app, but one is set as a "default" card, which it uses for payment when you tap a terminal. In order to use a different card just for one purchase (as people often do), you'll need to set it as the default, make the payment, then switch the default card again. Let's hope that changes with future updates.

Android Pay is also fighting the same uphill battle of Apple Pay — trying to get stores to start accepting NFC payments. While big chains like McDonald's, Foot Locker and Macy's take NFC payments, your little coffee shop down the street or local clothing store probably don't. You'll find payment terminals that accept NFC more and more as the technology gains momentum, but it just isn't universal enough to consider leaving your wallet at home.

Looking at Samsung Pay instead

Samsung Pay is really coming together on the fly just a handful of months after Samsung purchased the company LoopPay for its payment technology. The service has been in beta trials in South Korea and the U.S., and will be available to anyone with the four latest high-end Samsung phones starting September 28.

On the upside

The biggest selling point for using Samsung Pay is its exclusive technology called MST, or Magnetic Secure Transmission. Though it'll fall back to NFC for payment terminals that have it, MST lets your phone emulate a card swipe on any payment terminal that you'd normally swipe a card through. By simply placing your phone over the slot where you would usually swipe a card, the terminal will think a card was swiped and process the payment as usual. This means that Samsung Pay can be used in virtually any store — without the merchant explicitly being on-board — so long as you have access to the terminal where the card is swiped.

Anywhere you'd normally swipe a card, you can tap Samsung Pay.

The Samsung Pay interface also makes it super easy to choose exactly which card you want to pay with right at the time of payment. You swipe up on your lock or home screen, swipe between the cards you have in the app (one is set as a default), and then place it over the payment terminal. This makes it easier to choose a specific card for the type of purchase or retailer you're at.

Though Samsung is making a big push for Pay in the U.S., it has ambitions for international expansion as well. It has been available in South Korea since August, and Samsung has already announced it is working on an expansion to the UK, Spain and China. Google hasn't been so open about expansion plans for Android Pay, but Samsung has already taken the charge on pushing outside of the U.S.

On the downside

As we mentioned above, Samsung Pay doesn't have the bank or card support that Android Pay does. It's picked up support of three major card issuers, but only three banks as well. Considering the clout of Samsung we wouldn't be surprised if that number grows (and it'll have to, if it wants to succeed), but right now you're just out of luck if you don't have a supported card and bank.'

Restrictions are tight right now, but there are global ambitions.

And while the MST technology means Samsung Pay is accepted at drastically more places than Android Pay, you're still stuck in a situation where you'll likely have to have a wallet with you because of its limitations. You still can't pay with Samsung Pay at any type of payment terminal that requires a push/pull card swipe — like in ATMs, metro station ticket machines and gas stations — or in any situation where you'd normally hand a card over to someone who then swipes it on their side of the counter. Sure it can work in lots of places, but not everywhere a physical card can.

Beyond that, the big downside to Samsung Pay is how its handling device and carrier support. Because of the MST technology required to make Samsung Pay what it is, you'll have to own a Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+ or Note 5 to use it — as well as future high-end Samsung devices, we assume. Further, you'll have to have a carrier version of one of those phones from a supported U.S. carrier. At launch that's Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T and U.S. Cellular — meaning Verizon, as well as other popular but not gigantic carriers, are out of the mix right now. You also can't bring an international version of one of those phones to the U.S. and use Samsung Pay, even if you're on one of those carriers.

Which is right for you?

So with this information at hand, which one should you choose to use? If you don't have a Samsung phone, the answer here is pretty clear — you have to go with Android Pay. At the same time, if you don't meet the handful of other qualifications — a supported card from one of a few banks, and a recent U.S. carrier model Samsung phone — you can't use Samsung Pay, either. Samsung won't be bringing Samsung Pay back to older phones, and it won't be coming to non-Samsung phones either — but none of that is super surprising, and Android Pay definitely works, albeit with a few quirks.

If you have a Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+ or Note 5, got it from a major U.S. carrier and have a supported card from a supported bank, the decision is pretty clear — you should go with Samsung Pay. Though it's a pretty tough list of requirements that really narrows down the number of potential users, Samsung Pay is accepted in so many more stores that it really lowers the barrier to using it when compared to Android Pay. Of course if you have access to Samsung Pay that doesn't mean you can't have Android Pay installed on your phone, too — you're just going to have the best experience using just one mobile payment platform.

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Called Samsung Pay support line because after factory resetting my phone, I can't download the app anymore. But I did obtain a lot of information though. The rep told me that the official release for the app is going to go live Sunday night and that everybody (GS6 and above) will have the app by Monday morning. Also, he said that they are in talk with a lot of banks and that new cards are going to be added on a weekly basis. So excited for this! Now I just have to survive going two days without using Samsung pay. ﻿

I use neither because both are inherently unsafe with Google being top in terms of lack of privacy. Truth is, I need to buy apps and can't because I can't trust Google. I use Android because I have to. I have only bought apps I can buy from known sources and directly from their websites ( like Pleco). I don't even have a G+ account, which cuts me off the comment system in Play. That's another reason for me not using any payment system. I bet in the anglosphere is different, not so in many non anglospeaking countries around the world.

Maybe one of us it misunderstanding the other. To buy a Google play card i still need to buy it from Google Play. My issue is i want to buy but whatever i buy must be bought from outside Google play, only if i know the developer and provided he has a website where i can pay by credit card. Additionally, the other reason why i don't buy is that not having a G+ account (which i don't need), i can't even post comments on Play. That means that i may buy something to then be unable to comment or complain or even rate a product.
Bear also in mind that me (and other users) are forced to use Android due to lack of other ecosystems. This leads people like me to disable virtually any application that can be disabled and comes from Google (anything related to vocal commands first in line). I don't use social media. Unfortunately i do have to send emails. Last but not least, i am based in an Asian country where there isn't GPay and SPay may be introduced soon. I am not a fan of automated payment services on mobile. People like me even wonder how millions of users in particular in the Anglosphere, can trust an OS that is basically designed to spy on you, regardless of the reason. I bought the apps i needed among those devs who had their own website. I need to buy other things like a launcher, a calendar etc. and can't simply because i don't want to use any Google-related service. It goes by itself that should a non-Google, non Ad-based OS pop up on the market, with fewer yet more high quality apps without ads and without strings attached (In the sense that these apps keep calling home nobody knows to do what), i'd be very glad to get one and forget the Android thing, since they can't even be used a BYODs in many companies and other more sensitive environments

google play cards are at most electronic stores and and ur all around stores like target and walmart. and u said ur in Asia im sure they have similar stores. and u can get any unlocked phone u have choices. and no matter what phone or ecosystem u use ure info will always be issue. ur thinking to hard and trying to combat a situation u cant get around unless u put all tech down. and even if u dont use cards if u have a bank account they have all ur info too.

I have never seen Google Play cards in stores in my place. I'd have known. I always buy unlocked phones without any problems.
Ecosystems: I beg to disagree. You throw all OS' into the same bucket and, forgive me, it's not so.
Google is an OS that is designed to suck data (so do also many of Android apps) in order to A) know user's habits and provide "better ads" (non-requested) and B) since that data is going to the US, it is technically an abuse (European Union is designing methods to stop this also for Facebook etc. since it's illegal because the US are not supposed to get my data since i am not an US citizen)
Windows phone stays in the middle. I never saw so many ads as it is on Google and, gaps aside, the OS itself has less issues and a bit more privacy.
Blackberry is much safer than Android and its OS is much more efficient although A) it's not for free and B) doesn't offer all the "fashionable" toys that Android offers.
I am puzzled by this sentence "even if u dont use cards if u have a bank account they have all ur info too".
Maybe i wasn't clear enough so i will explain again. If i am based in China, my data (including credit card data) should stay in China, not sent to the US to enrich the global identification databases of various organizations i don't know. If i am based in Italy, my data should stay either in Italy or within the EU; it shouldn't again be sent to the US.
What i am arguing about is A) The intrinsic lack of safety of Google (which is why it's forbidden by quite a few governments and by many companies) and B) The fact that Google takes my data forcing it out of my mobile and sending it to the US, where i have no power whatsoever on it.
I don't have any issue at "Specific relevant agencies" to keep my data, for their respective purposes WITHIN the nation i reside". So if the Chinese government has all my data and digs into it in case of issues...i find it normal. But the fact that Google (a private company that represents nobody to me) abuses of its oligopolic position to force my data outside my country of residence is a utter disgrace, for me and, at some point they will realize, also for many other users.

If you are using Android and a web browser pointed at google.com Google already know a heck of a lot about you. Your privacy is already at question.

Holding out against supplying Credit Card details to Google for app purchases may make you think you have a greater degree of privacy, but I truly doubt it; as such holding out does seem to be causing some loss of functionality for you.

In order to be as financially secure as possible I have a specific credit card which I never carry in my physical wallet that I use for online transactions including the play store. If the Credit Card gets compromised I can cut it off without impacting the cards in my wallet. My 'online only' card has a low credit limit to prevent a potential thief having too good a time with it; I'm mean like that :-)

You are free to do whatever you want, but don't fool yourself into thinking that your privacy is uncompromised.

I don't really understand why these NFC payments have launched in a country like America (where NFC payment machine thingies aren't even in some major retailers) but not somewhere like Australia where NFC payments machine thingies are so common that it's unusual if a place *doesn't* do it.
Yeah basically I want Android Pay here right about now lol

It's because phone carriers cut deals and invested in Softcard (formerly called ISIS), an NFC system that would charge users for every transaction. They locked Google Wallet out. Those deals slowed the implementation of NFC to a crawl. That's why we are so far behind in tap and pay technology. Corporate greed

I currently use both and it's great! I like how I can easily pull up Samsung Pay when NFC isn't available. And I like how I can just unlocked the device and Android Pay is used instantly. Neither draws conflict with the other at all. Is nice to have the best of both.

Exactly what I thought too. I'd have imagined that Android Pay would come out in the UK first considering almost every shop that allows payment by card uses chip and pin, with most supporting NFC too. I've not seen a magnetic stripe reader in over a decade!

I'd love to use Samsung Pay, but don't use any Samsung devices at the moment. Eventually I'll be getting these, but for the immediate future, it's Android Pay and Google Wallet for me once I figure out how to get rid of carrying my debit cards.

If Samsung Pay would accept my card in the beta then it's a no brainer. Android pay is nice but come on, Samsung works with 90% of registers out of the box. Android pay and Apple pay can't compete with that realistically. People will hate because it is Samsung but if Google or Apple bought looppay people would say it's amazing.

I had used Google Wallet where it was supported and liked the idea. Also liked that i didn't need to pass my card to the McDonalds person and get it back with the germs from last 100 people that pulled though the drive through. I was excited about Android pay then all the BS came about supported cards which I found discouraging/disappointing. When it arrived and updated my Google Wallet app I tried to use it but got some BS message about my phone not being supported (S6 Edge - Rooted). Well I'm certainly not giving up root for this so Google can F off and I'm generally a strong Google supporter!

As for Samsung pay... I'm sick and tired of Samsung trying to be like Apple with their walled garden crap. I really hate this part of Samsung and don't support anything they do on their own outside of Android although one could argue that owning a S6 with touchwiz (wish I could run AOSP!). I bought a Gear Vr and it's locked down to just Samsung/Oculus content, no YouTube, Google Street, etc. Having root there were ways around it (freeze the service) but just pisses me off that Samsung pulls this crap. None I'm not interested in using Samsung Pay regardless if I can or not on my rooted S6.

Is what it is. If you don't like Samsung putting their apps on their phones then why buy it? Facts are Samsung Pay works with way more terminals that Google or Apple. If they want to keep that in house to add security through Knox then they should since it has to do with payments.

Tired of pulling out my wallet and fumbling through credit cards, debit cards, awards cards, etc. Too much wear and tear on a wallet and too much time wasted trying to find and pull the correct card. These new Pay systems seem to be the way to go in terms of security and convenience.

If I lose my wallet, there goes my credit card numbers and my ability to buy things or access an ATM for a few weeks. But if I use AP or SP and lose my phone, my card numbers are still secure and I could just go back home and get the actual cards to shop.

I hate the idea of being limited to just NFC terminals. Ive never actually noticed them in the places I shop but the idea of using Samsung Pay at traditional swipe terminals is a huge advantage over Android or Apple Pay. Most of the ATM's I'm seeing are now of the convenient swipe variety rather than the type that fully swallows your card for the duration of the transaction.

I really hate it when reviewers state that a drawback with Samsung Pay is that you can't use it when the card swipe machine is behind the counter where the cashier usually does the swiping. This is the same drawback for Android Pay and Apple Pay yet the reviewer fails to mention that. But in reality, I have no problem handing my phone to a cashier to place it next to the swipe terminal behind the counter just like I had no problem handing over my actual credit card in those same situations. This is a clear win for Samsung Pay because swipe terminal location is not an impediment to completing a Samsung Pay transaction.

I bank at Chase but I have no problem opening up B of A accounts just so I can use Samsung Pay. My guess is that I'll still be able to use my Chase cards soon enough anyway. I'm sure Samsung will have Chase and Wells sewn up by then.

Samsung Pay, the clear winner if you have one of their latest phones. If you don't have one you should probably get one.

If the swipe terminal is connected to the cash register or is located behind the counter then you would have to hand over your phone just like you hand over your card. The difference is that you initiate the card on the phone with the fingerprint censor BEFORE handing over the phone. The phone will be enabled for only that one transaction.

That is true, but most places that accept tap and pay have made the terminal accessible to the customer. Example, McDonald's made it so they extend it to your car via drive thru. I don't think I've ever had to hand over my phone. If I did I will not use tap and pay in that case.

I don't trust any company with my personal information unless I HAVE to give it up. And considering were talking about making payments with a phone, I don't view that as a necessity. So neither Samsung nor Google would get me to use their mobile payment systems. Same goes for fingerprint scanners on devices. I don't need one nor do I want one, so no oem will get me using their fingerprint scanners on their devices.

So I guess you do no online shopping, or PayPal. Cause essentially that's all the same in a different format. And I understand what you're saying about HAVE to, but unless you pay everything with cash or checks, it's hard to avoid.

I been using GW, and Softcard when they were implemented. I even used PayPal check out where available, it actual cane handy when I forgot my wallet.

I've had more fraud using my card to pay at terminals or online than I ever had using GW or Softcard, or PayPal for that matter. That's why it pays to have a reliable bank. You can't stop fraud unfortunately.

So you trust your phone with your email, social networks, private data, photos, personal information, phone calls and text messages, but you won't also secure that data with a fingerprint or add your credit/debit cards to the mix?

And unless you don't have a bank and only deal in cash today, Samsung Pay and Android Pay are vastly more secure systems than just swiping a plastic card at stores. Almost all data breaches happen at the merchant side, and these mobile payment systems completely protect you from such breaches. You pay with a virtual card number that can be de-activated on the fly, and there's no potential for having payment information intercepted during payment.

Google's also working on supporting certain banks and cards. Right now there's only a temporary system in place (leftovers from Google Wallet) for working with "any" card — that's going away, and soon on Android Pay you'll have to have a supported card to use Android Pay.

Can you (or anyone else) explain WHY that has to happen? The requirements of particular phones and a supported carrier make sense to me, but I don't understand why Samsung has to make a deal with each individual bank -- rather than one with either/both MasterCard and Visa -- in order for me to use Samsung Pay. I've purposefully turned away from all of the mega-banks in favor of a much better small credit union, and it seems unlikely that they are EVER going to be courted by Samsung for such an agreement.

I can't give a full explanation, but I believe it has to do with the tokenization. I think the bank is the one who sets all that up. Could Samsung Pay technically work by just duplicating your card info? More than likely, but it wouldn't be as secure. That's just my guess though, I haven't read about tokenization in a while.

Samsung Pay. Android was first out the gate and too slow to implement. Granted NFC is not widely used, Google just seems to have alot of opportunities to do things first and drop the ball. Had they bought the company that Samsung bought and licensed that to OEM for AP, game would be locked.

+1000. That said, I don't understand why you can't just add your card even if Samsung doesn't have a deal with your bank, just like Android Pay would work. I also don't understand why carriers who just offer cell phones, mostly useless forced apps, and cellular and data services (and some business enterprise), have anything to do with whether or not we want to make mobile payments.

The issue with Google buying LoopPay (which Samsung did instead) is it'd be really hard for them to force OEMs to include that LoopPay tech when they sell their own Android phones. it'd end up causing issues.

I'm not saying they have to force it, I'm simply saying they can license it to whoever wanted to use the tech. Just like not every phone (OPT...) has to have NFC but can have it if needed. It would be added bonus. Even if they only wanted it in the Nexus series, it would still have benefited AP in the long run with the whole ecosystem.

As an owner of a Note 5 I can and have used Wallet/Pay, please tell mme of which of those 30 million terminals that I can use Samsung PaY?? Last I've known, zero, because they haven't released it for general use in the US, aside from a few beta subjects.

I'm so annoyed with ap and their blocking root when gw worked just fine. You would think that you would want the early adopters using it, which are often the root type people. That being said I would go with Samsung pay if you have one already. Does the same as ap plus the barcode scanner. Win win.

Sure I do. Wallet works just fine with root. Since you know please explain it. This is everyone answer, but really know what knows anything. Google stores cc info and my whole life. I'd be more concerned about rogue apps sending my info to China. I think that's more likely. Luckily I'm not an idiot and can be a big boy on my phone and in real life. So please explain the security implications. Because I don't think you know.

Wallet doesn't have official support from banks and credit card companies. They're the ones who require devices not be rooted. You can't blame them for that. We're dealing with peoples money here and the banks and merchants are the ones that have liability in the case of fraudulent transactions. If you just want a "hack" payment solution then the old Wallet was fine. But if you want an official solution that's has real support like customer service, fraud protection, etc, then Android Pay is a much better mobile payments system.

Sam & Android Pay on my S6 which doesnt even need rooting to be honest and therfore has all the security the phone/Knox or whatever is on a S6 in place. When you root device you are blocking Knox/security to allow us to play arou d where we werent intended to. I have my Galaxy Tab 3 rooted with 525 GIG SD card and reversed tablets recognition of "device" and "SD" memory location. Your laptops (until a year ago) had 250 maybe 500 and my little tablet has half a Tbite (bought SD from China for $8 vs hundreds here and yes been very reliable for 2 years now). Bought 1 Tbite flash (usb2) drive for $19. US they go fron $300 to $1400. Why????

Cash is good. I get money back, between 1% and 5% (given as a check when I reach $50) per transaction, for using a credit card that I pay off every month though so I choose that route. I haven't had any credit card debt I haven't been able to pay off for years so I have made almost $2000 just because I use my credit card.

Cash people man I'll never get you. What a cumbersome messy way to pay for things. It's not even more secure because you can lose money or get mugged but banks give you theft and fraud protection on their cards. Like I don't even have to have a wallet anymore I just carry my card and ID in a pocket and as soon as I can pay in any local place with my phone I'll ditch that too. It just makes life simpler. I only carry cash when I travel outta state period. I can't wait for the day we as a society ditch the antiquated idea of paper bills.

Totally agree, I reported to Amex a $38.95 charge for Sep & Oct that I just noticed and wasnt a vendor/store I had ever shopped at. Within 30 minutes I actually had $280 back in my account as Amex researched and saw the charge started even earlier this year and repeated every month. I had a new card(new #) in 48 hours and $280 back that I didnt even know I lost. I use my cards for business expenses and travel to the tune of about $15,000 a month and vacations are free with the Exec Platnum AA miles and Hyatt points and cash back / miles on cards I pay off each month. Not to mention if I had to use cash keeping expense reports would be a disaster as well as items I can deduct from my Gross Income, what more can be said cash is for strip clubs , more difficult to expense and deduct anyways. Ha ha. In short, dont worry about using debit & credit online or on your mobile with Google Wallet, Samsung, Android or Apple Pay... My debit cards are a small local bank, Bank of America and Amex Bank and none have an app that allows me to get cash at ATM without physical card. Anyone heard of a reputible 3rd party app that works or if/when Samsung or Android Pay will be adding this?

I work in card fraud for a living, your points of compromise are almost always from your physical card. In recent years that more oftenthan not has meant Target and home depot. Your local McDonalds is also a big point of compromise. Using android and Samsung pay, in neither instance is your physical card number or data given away only temporary one use tokens which then route back through the networks and back to your bank.

The "mature" technology of swiping your card is incredibly insecure given that it uses your actual account number. Every "swipe" of a mobile payment (Samsung, Android and Apple Pay) use a one-time token. It is infinity more secure and safer than mag stripes.

Using the other replies as my supporting info, the compromised information from Target last year were CC numbers from physical cards. With these technologies (AndroidPay, SamsungPay, ApplyPay) the worst a compromised account could get is an invalid token. Given that this is relatively new technology, so few merchants accept this that "convenience" isn't really in the vocabulary. For this initial release and the large merchants that accept this, it is entirely for security reasons that one would choose to use this over mature technology that has such basic flaws. I'm not trying to be negative here but I would encourage you to take a chance on this one in lieu of the card for your own sake and peace of mind.

A little research goes a long way. If every transaction at target was done with tap and pay back when they got breached, target would have been ok and no customer info would have been taken since each transaction uses a random token that never gives out original card info. Is it completely safe? Probably not, everything has a weakness, but it's way more secure than swiping your credit card. A home with just locks is secure, a home with locks and alarm is even more secure. Either one can still be broken into, but one is harder than the other. That's the point behind tap and pay and random tokenization.

The reason banks are moving to chip cards is because the 'mature' technology is no longer secure-able and too much fraud occurs via traditional Credit Cards.

Chip and sign we see being introduced is better than what we've been used to, but isn't as good as chip-and-PIN used in Europe and the rest of the world.

Android pay adds a PIN to your chip-and-sign card. It's a really neat way to get top grade security without having to wait for the US to realize its mistake in going for chip-and-sign and convert to chip-and-PIN, and that isn't certain to occur anyway.

Are you people kidding me you give kids at all kinds of stores your credit card all the time you don't know what they do with that half the time I'm going to drive thru and disappear for 5 10 20 seconds but when it comes down to something in front of you he won't hesitate to say no